Seanad Éireann díospóireacht -
Thursday, 22 Jun 1978

Vol. 89 No. 11

Commissioners of Public Works in Ireland (Acceptance of Trusteeship) Bill, 1978: Second and Subsequent Stages.

Question proposed: "That the Bill be now read a Second Time."

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Wyse)

The need for this Bill arises from Mr. W. Garfield Weston's very generous gift to the State of his property — Barretstown Castle and adjoining land of some 520 acres at Ballymore Eustace, County Kildare. The gift includes the contents of the castle and a sum of £100,000 by way of permanent endowment for the purpose of discharging the outgoings on the property.

As I mentioned in the other House on behalf of the present Government, I should again like to endorse the expression of thanks made to Mr. Garfield Weston by the then Taoiseach when acknowledging acceptance of the gift in March 1977.

The arrangements for the processing of the gift which is being funded by the Garfield Weston Charitable Foundation include the setting up of Barretstown Castle Trust and it is proposed that the Commissioners of Public Works will be the trustees of this trust. The legal advice which was obtained was to the effect that the commissioners have no statutory power to act as trustees or to nominate trustees in a case such as this.

Legislation to enable the commissioners to act as trustees is accordingly necessary, and the Bill provides for this. The Bill also contains a clause enabling the commissioners in general terms to accept the trusteeship of any other trust with the concurrence of the Minister for Finance. It seems appropriate to take the present opportunity to give them this power which they have not had up to now.

The Barretstown Castle Trust is being administered by the trustees of the Garfield Weston Irish Foundation until the commissioners can undertake the trust. The Irish National Stud Company are using the land and farm buildings on a rental basis and the question of the future of the house is being examined.

Mr. Staunton

We take pleasure in supporting the Bill and welcoming this generous gift from Mr. Weston. The value of the property is substantial. The gift also includes the contents and a substantial sum of money towards maintenance. We recognise the legislative necessity to enable the commissioners to act as trustees, and the Bill obviously is for this reason.

On a wider plane there have been suggestions — indeed the Taoiseach was one of those who suggested it — let us say in fairness to him that he said it from the distance of the Opposition benches so that obviously there is no personal issue involved as far as he is concerned; speaking for myself, because we have not discussed it as a party, I support his views completely — that there is an obvious necessity for some type of official residence for the Taoiseach of the day, and though a definitive decision may not have been made by the Government concerning this property, it would seem entirely appropriate that the property might be used for that purpose.

We have certain anomalies in these matters. For instance, we have a magnificent residence for the President in Aras an Uachtaráin. Yet the Taoiseach, in his extremely difficult and prestigious position has not an equivalent premises. This creates many problems because although official hosting of certain events — people visiting from other countries or possibly complimenting people within our own country for certain achievements — may take place in Aras an Uachtaráin, they would be guests of the President, but in so far as they may be guests of the Taoiseach, or guests of the Government, or in so far as there are other initiatives which the Taoiseach might wish to pursue, which might, perhaps, have social connotations, he should have an official residence. For example, not so very long ago we had the generous offer of Lord Iveagh of his property to the Government to host a major EEC conference. It was most generous of Lord Iveagh to have lent his property for this purpose but in the long-term it is a very unsatisfactory position for the Government to find itself in.

Additionally there are obviously security problems where the Taoiseach is concerned and it would seem to me that the security authorities would welcome the possibility of a property such as this being used by the Taoiseach, thereby giving them the opportunity to carry out the necessary screening.

We welcome this Bill, which is enabling the commissioners to act as trustees but on a broader plane the country would be receptive to the use of this property as an official residence for the Taoiseach.

Professor Conroy

On behalf of the Government side I should like to join in welcoming Mr. Weston's extremely generous gift to the State. It is a very fine residence and property and perhaps as Senator Staunton has suggested it could be used for the purposes mentioned by the then Leader of the Opposition. I would certainly agree with Senator Staunton that there is a need for some such property, some such place, where guests can be appropriately welcomed when they come to this country. We are very lacking in this respect and we have, indeed, been very much in the debt of private individuals on a very ad hoc basis so far. It is a simple fact of the EEC relationship and, indeed, of other developing relationships, that more and more visits by heads of State, by Government delegations, by various bodies and so on, are likely to take place and that in effect we do need to have some suitable place. Whether or not Barretstown Castle would be suitable or not is, of course, another question.

I do not think it does in many ways set an excellent precedent in the giving of this property to the State and also, one should add as well, the sum of £100,000 which is being given as a permanent endowment for the purpose of maintaining the estate. There is, however, an even greater principle — and I am delighted to see the Government has taken note of this — and that is that it is not to be regarded as a one-off matter but that the Commissioners of Public Works who are given authority for this one particular property, are also being given a wider power which hopefully will be of considerable benefit in future. Certainly it is very necessary. Again I welcome the Bill and Mr. Weston's gift.

Question put and agreed to.

Agreed to take remaining Stages today.

Bill put through Committee, reported without amendment and received for final consideration.

Question proposed: "That the Bill do now pass."

Minister of State at the Department of Finance (Mr. Wyse)

I should like to express the thanks of both Houses of the Oireachtas to the donor for this very generous gift and I also pay a very special tribute to Senator FitzGerald for arranging this whole matter.

Question put and agreed to.

The Seanad adjourned at 12.15 p.m. until 2.30 p.m. on Wednesday, 28 June 1978.